According to CNET and Bloomberg, Google Play reached 700,000 apps and 25 billion downloads this past autumn. With so many options for users, some apps naturally rise to the top while others fall. Here are a few Android apps that stood out in 2012:

Draw Something by OMGPOP

Draw Something is a Pictionary-esque mobile app in which two players alternate drawing words and guessing them. The app was released in February of 2012 and had over 20 million downloads within the first 5 weeks. The instant success led mobile gaming giant Zynga to buy both Draw Something and OMGPOP for $200 million in March 2012.

Draw Something is available on Google Play for $2.99.

SwiftKey 3 by SwiftKey

SwiftKey has been around since 2008, but the continued updates through the last year helped it achieve the status of the “best-selling Android app of 2012,” as stated on their website. SwiftKey is an alternative to the standard keyboard. The app uses Machine Learning technology to adapt to the use, spelling, and flow of words. It will often guess the next word quickly because it adjusts to the user’s writing style.

SwiftKey 3 is available on Google Play for $3.99.

WhatsApp Messenger by WhatsApp Inc.

WhatsApp was launched back in 2009, but grew slowly via word of mouth. At the end of 2011 they announced that its users had sent over a billion messages in a single day. Since then the app has grown in popularity. A tweet from WhatsApp Inc. in August announced a second milestone: 10 billion messages a day. The app is a free messenger that allows pictures, video and audio files, and group chat. The developer encourages users to “say goodbye to SMS” and switch to WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Messenger is available for free on Google Play.

UberHype for Hype Machine by Dirty Water Labs

Jumping on the scene in late 2011, UberHype gave Android users access to the music discovery network Hype Machine. Hype Machine pulls trending music from blogs around the world and compiles them into an easy to navigate service. UberHype keeps the simplicity of Hype Machine and adds features such as Last.fm and social network integration. In 2012, UberHype gathered over 100,000 downloads and became a must-have for music enthusiasts.